A young man identified as Elvin Antonio Callejas-Serrato was arrested this weekend in Lehigh Acres, Florida, after pointing and firing twice at a police drone from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, according to a video that was shared by the agency and went viral on social media.
The incident occurred in the Todd Avenue S area when the drone—part of the "Drone as First Responder" program from the sheriff's office—was deployed to assist with a service call in the area. The nationality or country of origin of Callejas-Serrato has not been publicly disclosed.
How did the incident happen?
While the operator was monitoring the area from the air, he observed several men who appeared to be carrying a firearm.
Moments later, Callejas-Serrato -whose nationality has not been disclosed- aimed the weapon directly at the drone and fired twice in that direction.
The agents, who were already in the vicinity, responded immediately and apprehended the group.
During the investigation, they recovered a BB gun loaded with steel pellets.
In the video released by the sheriff's office, the agents are heard confronting the suspect: “Yes, you are shooting at our drone.”
Callejas-Serrato was charged with the crime of shooting or throwing deadly missiles at an aircraft, a first-degree felony in Florida that can carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 under state statute § 790.19.
The sheriff's warning
Sheriff Carmine Marceno issued a strong statement in defense of the drone program and warned about the consequences of attacking police resources.
“The technology we have implemented is used to protect and serve our great residents,” Marceno stated.
"Our first drone responder allows us to respond quickly and keep our helpers and the community safe. If you threaten or harm the resources of law enforcement, you will be held accountable," added the official.
The program deploys drones either before or alongside agents to assess scenes in real time from the air, transmit live observations, and assist ground units in responding with greater safety and efficiency.
Viral video and mixed reactions
The sheriff's office post on Facebook garnered over 361,000 views and 1,740 reactions.
The case sparked an intense debate in the comments, focused on three main issues: the alleged disproportion of the charge, privacy in the face of police drones, and the legal limits of airspace over private properties.
Many users found it excessive to impose a charge related to "lethal missiles" when the weapon was a low-powered pellet gun.
Many mocked, pointing out that the rifle would barely have enough range to reach the drone.
“How was I supposed to know it was a sheriff's drone and not one from some stalker?”, wrote a user, questioning whether the device was clearly marked as police from the ground.
“The charge seems excessive for someone who used a pellet gun,” commented another commentator, a stance that received widespread support.
Other users expressed concern about aerial surveillance in residential areas: "I don't mind something passing overhead, but I do mind it hovering over my property."
However, some commentators reminded us that the law is clear on this matter: “Shooting at an aircraft remains a crime, even if it's a drone.”
Some warned that the case could set important precedents.
"This case could define the boundaries between privacy and drone surveillance," noted a user.
Under federal law, destroying or damaging an aircraft in service can result in up to 20 additional years in prison if federal jurisdiction applies, which further increases the potential severity of the charges faced by Callejas-Serrato.
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